Procedure and device for cleaning floors with flat cleaning mops

ABSTRACT

In a procedure for cleaning floors by hand with the help of flat cleaning mops, mops provided with a certain quantity of cleaning solution are used. In this case, at least one mop is removed from a storage container, and saturated with solution before or during removal; the solution is applied onto the surface of the mop; the mops are stored as is after use in a holding container up to their disposal for purposes of regeneration. A device for fitting and preparing a large number of flat cleaning mops consists of a storage container, which has a removal opening for removing mops, and is provided inside with a feeding device for prior saturating the removed mops with cleaning solution.

The invention relates to a procedure for cleaning floors by hand withthe help of flat cleaning mops, wherein mops provided with a certainquantity of cleaning solution are used.

This procedure is carried out on large surfaces by means of a device forsupplying and preparing flat cleaning mops with a storage container,which stores a larger number of mops.

The use of flat cleaning mops, so called flat mops, in cleaningtechnology is very widespread. Flat mops are used in particular onfloors that need to be cleaned by hand, e.g., in laboratories,hospitals, production facilities with high demands on purity andcleanliness, e.g., in computer technology, chip manufacture, medicaltechnology, and the like.

Flat mops have the advantage of covering a large floor surface area,wherein the operator can easily check the result. One special advantagelies in the fact that the used flat mop need only be replaced by a freshone at the latest when the cleaning solution applied to the fresh flatmop has been used up. The precondition for achieving a high standard ofcleaning is that the operator does not have to rinse, wring and againsaturate the flat mop, as is usually the case.

As a result, this invention proceeds from the knowledge that the mopreplacement principle is to replace on-site mop cleaning, i.e., the usedmop, whose cleaning solution has been used up, is replaced by a freshmop saturated with fresh cleaning solution. The cleaning solution is tobe applied to a fresh mop in the dosage needed for the desired cleaningresult.

To ensure a suitable dosage, it is already known from EP 90850020 B1 topack a cleaning mop in a sealed cover, which also encompasses a sealedcontainer with cleaning solution, so that the liquid is separate fromthe mop, and the container can be opened without tearing open the cover,so that the liquid flows out inside the cover, and saturates the mop.After use, the mop is taken to the washing plant, where it is washed andpacked in a new cover for reuse in the manner described.

Also known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,977 is to have a conventionalcleaning cart with rinsing bucket, mop press and waste containerincorporate a metering device, which makes it possible to saturate themop rinsed and dry-pressed for reuse with a selectable quantity of freshcleaning solution. Metering device operation is valve-controlled,wherein a settable quantity of cleaning solution is diverted from astorage container and applied by means of a swiveling dispensing tubeonto the mop bundled in a bucket, which consists of a bundle of mopelement skeins. This type of metering device is unsuitable for flatmops, since it cannot be used to achieve a uniform distribution ofcleaning solution. In addition, bundled mops are less suitable for thereliable performance of cleaning jobs where high demands are placed onthe cleaning result.

By contrast, the object of this invention is to create a procedure anddevice of the kind mentioned at the outset for cleaning floor surfacesthat not only satisfy the highest demands on cleaning quality; inparticular, the goal is to support an environment-friendly,cost-effective cleaning procedure with a suitable device that does notrequire renewed on-site reparation of the cleaning mop.

This object is achieved in the procedure according to a first embodimentof the invention in that at least one mop is removed from a storagecontainer, that the mops are saturated with solution before or duringremoval and that the solution is applied onto the surface of the mop.

The procedure of the first embodiment of the invention can beadvantageously supported by means of a suitable device for fitting andpreparing flat cleaning mops with a storage container, which stores alarger number of mops, has a removal opening for removing mops, and isprovided inside with a feeding device for prior saturating the removedmops with cleaning solution.

This object is also achieved in the procedure according to a secondembodiment of the invention in that at least one mop is removed from astorage container, that the mops are saturated with solution at removaland that the solution is applied onto the surface of the mop.

Furthermore, this object is achieved in the procedure according to athird embodiment of the invention in that at least one mop is removedfrom a storage container, that the mops are saturated with solutionafter removal and that the solution is applied onto the surface of themop. This enables a user to remove a dry mop from the device, which maybe saturated with solution after removal.

The procedures of the second and third embodiments of the invention canbe advantageously supported by means of a suitable device for fittingand preparing flat cleaning mops with a storage container, which storesa larger number of mops and has a removal opening for removing mops,which device is provided with a feeding device for saturating the mopswith cleaning solution.

In addition to at least one storage container, the device according tothe invention advantageously encompasses at least one holding container,which accommodates the dirty mops following their use.

The procedure and device according to the invention provide, as it were,a novel way for mastering cleaning jobs involving large surfaces, e.g.,of the kind handled in particular by large companies in the cleaningindustry, and for which the solution proposed by the invention istherefore of special interest. Because the device according to theinvention makes it possible to automatically control how much cleaningsolution is metered per mop, requirements for an elevated cleaningquality can be harmonized in an ideal fashion with those for aneconomical utilization of resources. A suitable metering of cleaningsolution makes it possible to adjust the quantity of cleaning solutionapplied per unit area of the floor surface to be cleaned in a highlyreliable and accurate manner; at the same time, this sets theconsumption of fresh water and cleansing agent. In comparison to theconventional, individual metering based on cleaning power, an economicaluse of cleaning agent can therefore also be generally achieved. The factthat the used mops are not washed on-site, but instead collected andwashed in a large number at a washing plant, eliminates additionalproblems involving the disposal of dirty water. This means that freshwater is not used at the cleaning site, and nor must dirty water beremoved. Therefore, an economic cost calculation can advantageously bebased either on the cleaned surface or number of used mops. This makesit possible to calculate very precisely the financial burden placed onthe customer for the “cleaning” service while still ensuring cleaningquality.

The cleaning system proposed by the invention, which is based on the useof flat mops and their exchange, is particularly suitable for use infranchise systems, which are suitably organized to perform cleaningservices on-site and maintain a system for supplying fresh flat mops anddisposing of dirty flat mops. This activity centers around the deviceaccording to the invention, which the franchise sets up in the numberrequired at the customer, and there fits it with fresh flat mops, whosemetering device must be serviced accordingly, and which can have aholding container for keeping the used mops, whose contents must bedisposed of.

According to the first embodiment of the invention the mops areadvantageously fanned out and stacked one on top of the other in astorage container of the device according to the invention. In thiscase, either only the mop removed from the stack, e.g., the top mop, issaturated with solution, wherein the remaining stack remains essentiallydry, or several mops are moistened simultaneously, if usedsimultaneously or in rapid succession.

In the first embodiment of the invention the mops are advantageouslysaturated with cleaning solution by spraying the mops with the solutionuntil saturated. As an alternative, the mops can be saturated throughimmersion in a corresponding bath with cleaning solution.

For saturation purposes, the mops are removed from the stack of freshflat mops in the storage container, preferably from the top, by firstsaturating the uppermost or lowermost mop of the stack with cleaningsolution and then removing it. Another possibility is to remove therespective top mop of the stack and only then saturating it withsolution in the direction taken off behind the stack. In this variant,the stack remains completely dry. Saturation can either take place byspraying immediately before removal, or drawing the mop through a bathfilled with solution. To ensure a uniform saturation of the mop, itmakes sense for the removal of the mop from the storage container to beautomatically controlled.

The device according to the invention can be configured to have ametering device that routes an adjustable quantity of solution to thefeeding device from a tank with fresh cleaning solution. In the firstembodiment of the invention the feeding device is advantageouslydesigned as a spraying device.

In another proposal according to the first embodiment of the invention,the storage container has a removal opening in the front, under which islocated the stack with fresh mops, and above which the feeding device isaccommodated. In this case, it makes sense for an intermediate floor inthe storage container to be adjustable in height based on the stackheight, which diminishes as the mops stacked in the magazine areremoved. The height of the intermediate floor can here be incrementallyadjusted, wherein the height is adjusted by about the thickness of onemop in each increment.

In addition, actuation of the metering device can be linked with eachheight adjustment, so that the respectively removed mop or the uppermostmop of the stack is saturated with solution. As already stated above,this can either take place while the uppermost mop is still on thestack, or only after the uppermost mop has been taken off the stack.

Instead of a height-adjustable intermediate floor, the stack can rest ona fixed decking, wherein the removal opening adjusts to the stackheight.

As concerns the structure of the storage container, the inventionaccording to the first embodiment provides that the feeding deviceconsists of spray nozzles distributed over the container cross section,which are connected to the metering device by a system of lines.

In one advantageous configuration of the metering device, the latter issituated with the tank for the cleaning solution and a compressed airbottle to convey the solution by means of compressed air to the feedingdevice in a separate casing.

For purposes of maintaining the device according to the invention, itmakes sense that its storage and holding container each have a lidsection that can be swing open to the side on hinges. Unlatching andtilting the lid makes it easy to both refill the storage container withfresh mops, and remove the dirty mops from the holding container.

In an advantageous form of execution of the invention, the magazine withstack of fresh flat mops is located inside the storage container,specifically above the intermediate floor, wherein the stack is boundedon the sides by vertical guide rods.

The height of the intermediate floor is advantageously adjusted by aspring force, exerted by the removal of the stack weight or through theuse of an upper stop. Tension and/or compression springs that act on theintermediate floor are here used.

The storage container preferably has a drip floor below the stack forcleaning solution released to the sides of the stack, which can bereturned for reuse. It makes sense to use a drain to connect the dripfloor with a collecting basin provided in the lower part of the storagecontainer.

According to the second embodiment of the invention the feeding deviceis formed as a flat trough, which preferably comprises a perforatedflexible upper plate and a stiff lower plate appropriate to support theflexible upper plate. The stiff lower plate is arranged underneath theperforated flexible upper plate with a small distance, such that, uponsufficient elastic deformation of the flexible upper plate, the flexibleupper plate may abut against the stiff lower plate. In absence of asufficient elastic deformation of the flexible upper plate to abutagainst the stiff lower plate, an intermediate space between theperforated flexible upper plate and the stiff lower plate is formed,which may be at least partly filled with cleaning solution. Thus, uponelastic deformation of the flexible upper plate, by exerting amechanical force on the flexible upper plate for instance by means of arod, the flexible upper plate sinks into the cleaning solution, and, incase that a mop is placed onto the surface of the flexible upper plate,that mop will also sink into the cleaning solution.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the stiff lower plate mayadvantageously be perforated, such that the trough or the intermediatespace between upper and lower plates, respectively, may be filled withcleaning solution from below the perforated stiff plate.

According to the second and third embodiments of the invention it ispreferable that the storage container is formed as a rotatable drumhaving a plurality of radially arranged compartments. In then makessense that the dimensions of each compartment correspond roughly to thedimensions of a fanned out mop, so that each compartment may be filledwith a single mop. It may also be convenient to provide for singlecompartments suitable for filling with a plurality of mops, which maythen be arranged in parallel.

It is preferred that the removal opening for removing mops from thestorage container is formed in a fixed casing of the drum, wherein theremoval opening is arranged in a position underneath a horizontal planepassing through the center of the drum, and wherein an aperture of theremoval opening corresponds roughly to an aperture of the radiallyarranged compartments. Such arrangement of the removal opening resultsin, that the mops will drop out of the compartments by gravitation incase the removal opening releases said aperture of the respectivecompartment. In order to bring each compartment in a position, in whichits aperture is released by the removal opening, the drum mayadvantageously be rotated stepwise, such that one step of rotationcorresponds to the rotational increment between adjacent compartments.

The device may advantageously further comprise a guide plate arranged atthe removal opening for guiding the mops to a removal position in thetrough. In other words, in case the removal opening releases arespective compartment, which results in that the corresponding mop willdrop out of the compartment, the mop is led to the trough into aposition, in which it can be easily removed by a user.

The device according to the second and third embodiments of theinvention may also comprise a filling opening for filling mops in thestorage container, which is formed in a fixed casing of the drum,wherein the filling opening is arranged in a position above a horizontalplane passing through the center of the drum, such that mops filled intothe compartment will drop into the compartments by gravitation. In orderto quickly fill the storage container, an aperture of the fillingopening corresponds roughly to a plurality of apertures of the radiallyarranged compartments, such that a plurality of compartments may befilled simultaneously.

According to the second and third embodiments of the invention the mopsare advantageously fanned out and placed in the compartments of thedrum. In case a respective compartment is released by the removalopening, only that mop will drop out of the compartment and will besaturated with solution, wherein the remaining mops stay dry. For asecure removal of the mops from the compartments a mop sliding face ofeach compartment, on which a mop will slide out of the compartment, mayadvantageously be polished.

For saturation purposes, the mops drop out from its respectivecompartment and are brought into a removal position, in which they arefanned out horizontally, which removal position is accessible fromoutside. It is advantageous that each mop is brought into a removalposition with a downward oriented cleaning face.

According to a most preferred variant of the second embodiment of theinvention each mop drops out of its respective compartment upon releaseby the removal opening, is led to the perforated flexible upper platehaving its cleaning face downward oriented and is saturated withsolution at its removal by sinking it into a stock of cleaning solutionby exerting a sufficient mechanical force on the mop such, that theflexible upper plate is elastically deformed until it contacts the stifflower plate.

The device according to the invention can be configured to have ametering device that routes an adjustable quantity of solution to thefeeding device from a tank with fresh cleaning solution, such that eachmop may be saturated with a metered quantity of the solution.

In another advantageous configuration of the invention, the removalopening of the storage container is sealed form outside by means of aflap, which, when opened, actuates the metering device, whose subsequentactuation is disabled until the saturated mop has been removed. Thisensures that the same mop cannot be moistened over and over again simplyby opening the flap. The flap can also be provided with a lock, so thatit additionally serves as a safety element when the device is not inuse.

In order to reliably prevent already used mops given an empty magazinefrom again being taken from the holding container, the invention alsoprovides that the holding container have a feed inlet on its lid sectionthat is bridged to the inside by a deflection compartment, whichprevents a hand from reaching in. The deflection compartment alsoenables a better utilization of space for the holding container.

According to the invention, up to 50 or even up to 100 fresh mops can bestored in a dry state without any problem. Based on a cleaned floorsurface per mop of 20 m², for example, this yields a savings of approx.$2.00 per liter of used cleaning solution in favor of the cleaningsystem according to the invention, calculated according to thestatistical data valid in the U.S. In terms of the U.S. nationaleconomy, this denotes an overall savings of approx. 800 million dollarsper year. These savings can essentially be attributed to the ability toprecisely, and hence economically, meter the cleaning solution per mop,the surface coverage per mop depending on the cleaning job, and therational maintenance, fitting and disposal of the device componentsaccording to the invention used in the process.

In the device according to the invention storage and holding containersare advantageously set up one next to the other on the casing for themetering device. The casing can be mounted on wheels, so that theoperator can bring it along. This minimizes the time required to changeout the mop.

In all embodiments of the invention it of course is possible to removedry mops from the device for instance for the purpose of dust cleaningor spill removal. The term “cleaning” of floors as used herein comprisescleaning, treatment and disinfection of floors.

The invention shall now be described based on respective examples of thefirst and second embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an exemplary device according to thefirst embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of an exemplary device according to thesecond embodiment of the invention.

The device shown in FIG. 1 has a holding container 2 in addition to astorage container 1 for fitting and preparing flat mops. Both containersare mounted on a casing 3 that can be moved on rollers 4. Situatedinside the storage container 1 with the removal opening 5 is a magazinewith a stack 6 of flat mops, which are stacked on an intermediate floor7. Vertically running guide rods secured to the respective interiorwalls of the storage container 1 for limiting the stack 6 housed in themagazine to the side have not been shown to maintain the clarity of thedrawing. Visible under the intermediate floor 7 is the symbolicrepresentation of a compression spring 8, which incrementally shifts theintermediate floor upward in response to the continuous removal of flatmops according to arrows 9 through the removal opening 5. Situated overthe floor of the storage container 1 is a drip floor 10, which is usedto catch and divert any cleaning solution that was released, i.e., notabsorbed by the upper mop. The cleaning solution is sprayed onto theupper mop by means of a feeding device 11, which has nozzles uniformlydistributed over the entire cross section of the storage container 1.The removal opening 5 of the storage container 1 can be sealed by theflap 12 denoted by a dashed line. The operator opens the flap 12 tograsp the uppermost flat mop in the magazine, simultaneously opens theflap to actuate the metering device, which deactivates before or whilethe mop is removed through the removal opening 5. The metering device islocated in casing 3, in which a tank 13 with cleaning solution and apressure tank 14 are accommodated. A valve-controlled conveying system(not shown) connects the pressure tank, e.g., containing 60 psi ofcompressed air, with the tank 13, and from there with the feeding device11 via a hose connection. The lid 15 of the casing 3 is shown foldeddown in the open position.

The tank 13 with the cleaning solution has a capacity of 30 l, forexample. This is enough to saturate approx. 100 mops.

The storage container 1 contains a magazine preferably having 50 to 100mops stacked one atop the other. The magazine is filled by swivelingopen the lid 16 of the storage container 1 around the hinge 18 accordingto arrow 17.

The holding container 2 also has a lid section 20 that can be swiveledaround the hinges 18 according to arrow 18, which accommodates the feedinlet 21. The dirty mops to be disposed of according to arrows 22 arelaterally inserted into the holding container 2, passing by a deflectioncompartment 23, and then drop down into the holding container 2. Thestorage container 1 and holding container 2 are bonded together, andunderneath with the casing 3, by means of bracket joints 24.

The device shown in FIG. 2 has a storage container, which is formed as adrum 25, provided with a plurality of radially arranged compartments 26.Drum 25, which is placed in a horizontal plane 27 passing trough thecenter 28 of the drum 25, is accommodated in a fixed casing 30, which ismounted on wheels 50. A filling opening 29 for filling mops into thedrum 25 is formed in the fixed casing 30 of the drum 25 in a positionabove the horizontal plane 27 passing through the center 28 of the drum25. The filling opening 29 corresponds roughly to a plurality ofapertures of radially arranged compartments 26 (six in FIG. 2). Thecompartments 26 of the drum 25 which are released by the filling opening29 may be filled with mops and, upon rotation of the drum 25 inclock-wise direction in FIG. 2, further compartments 26 may be filledwith mops before the firstly filled compartment reaches a removalopening 31 releasing its aperture, which would result in that thefilled-in mop drops out of its compartment 26. Otherwise casing 30prevents that filled-in mops can drop out of its compartments 26.

For the purpose of saturating a mop 33 with cleaning solution and forremoval of the (non-)saturated mop the device comprises a trough 35,which is accessible from outside. Trough 35 comprises a perforatedflexible upper plate 36 and a perforated stiff lower plate 37. The stifflower plate 37 is arranged beneath the perforated flexible upper plate36 at a small distance such, that an intermediate space 45 is formedinbetween. A cleaning solution may be filled into trough 35 until saidintermediate space 45 is at least partly filled. A guide plate 32 isprovided at the removal opening 32 for guiding a mop 33, which isdropping out from its respective compartment 26, into a removal positionwithin trough 35 onto flexible upper plate 36. In this position mop 33is horizontally fanned out, while its cleaning face 34 is in a downwardorientation.

At removal of the mop 33, mop 33 is forcibly pressed against flexibleupper plate 36, which results in that the flexible upper plate 36 iselastically deformed until it abuts against stiff lower plate 37. Incase intermediate space 45 is at least partly filled with cleaningsolution, by bringing upper plate 36 into contact with lower plate 37,mop 33 sinks into the cleaning solution and is saturated with solutionat its removal.

For filling intermediate space 45 with cleaning solution a watercontainer 39, a mechanical fluid pump 38, a container 46 filled withchemicals, and connecting lines for interconnecting containers 39, 46and fluid pump 38 are provided. More particularly, fluid pump 38 is usedto transport water from water container 39 and chemicals from chemicalscontainer 46 through connecting lines 40, 41, 43 to opening 44 forfilling of trough 35 with mixed cleaning solution. Connecting line 42 isused to admix chemicals from chemicals container 46 to water from watercontainer 39 to produce the cleaning solution.

A lever arrangement is provided both for step-wise rotation of drum 25and actuation of fluid pump 38. In said lever arrangement a manuallyoperated first lever 48 is articulated with a second lever 45 which isarticulated with a third lever 46. Third lever 46 is articulated with ahinged lever 47, which then is used to actuate fluid pump 38. Said leverarrangement is also used to actuate a means 49 for rotating drum 25step-wise, such that each single actuation of manually operated firstlever 48 results in a single rotational step of drum 25. Such step-wiserotation of drum 25 results in that a next compartment adjacent acompartment which currently is situated opposite to removal opening 31is brought into a position opposite to removal opening 31, in which itsaperture then will be released by removal opening 31. FIG. 2 shows twofurther mops 33, which are in a position to next reach removal opening31 one after another.

Said lever arrangement comprises two different positions of manuallyactuated first lever 48. In a first position of first lever 48, which isreached by manually pulling first lever 48 downwards, drum 25 is rotatedone step in a clockwise direction to bring a further compartment 26,which is adjacent in a counter-clockwise direction to that compartment,which is opposite to removal opening 31, in a position, in which it isin a position opposite to removal opening 31, to release its aperture byremoval opening 31, so that filled-in mop 33 will drop out of itscompartment 26. Afterwards, in a second position of first lever 48,which is reached by further pulling first lever 48 downwards, fluid pump38 is actuated to fill trough 35 or intermediate space 45, respectively,with cleaning solution. Thus, in case first lever 48 is only pulled intoits first position, drum 25 is rotated by one increment, correspondingto the peripheral distance of two adjacent compartments, and a singlemop 33 drops out of its compartment, which may be removed as a dry mop33. Otherwise, in case first lever 48 is first pulled into its firstposition and then pulled into its second position, drum 25 is rotated byone increment, corresponding to the peripheral distance of two adjacentcompartments, a single mop 33 drops out of its compartment and trough 35or intermediate space 45, respectively, is filled with cleaningsolution. In the latter case, mop 33 is saturated with cleaning solutionat its removal.

1. Procedure for cleaning floors by hand with the help of flat cleaningmops, wherein mops provided with a certain quantity of cleaning solutionare used, characterized in that at least one mop is removed from astorage container, that the mops are saturated with solution before orduring removal and that the solution is applied onto the surface of themop.
 2. Procedure according to claim 1, characterized in that the mopsare fanned out and are stacked one on top of the other in the storagecontainer.
 3. Procedure according to claim 2, characterized in that onlythe respective mop removed from the stack is saturated with solution. 4.Procedure according to claim 3, characterized in that the respectiveuppermost or lowermost mop of the stack is saturated with solution andthen removed.
 5. Procedure according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe respective uppermost mop of the stack is taken off and saturatedwith solution in the direction taken off behind the stack.
 6. Procedureaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the mops are saturated witha metered quantity of the solution.
 7. Procedure according to claim 6,characterized in that the mops are saturated with the solution viaspraying.
 8. Procedure according to claim 1, characterized in that themops are kept as is after use in a holding container until disposed offor purposes of their regeneration.
 9. Procedure for cleaning floors byhand with the help of flat cleaning mops, wherein mops provided with acertain quantity of cleaning solution are used, characterized in that atleast one mop is removed from a storage container, that the mops aresaturated with solution at removal and that the solution is applied ontothe surface of the mop.
 10. Procedure for cleaning floors by hand withthe help of flat cleaning mops, wherein mops provided with a certainquantity of cleaning solution are used, characterized in that at leastone mop is removed from a storage container, that the mops are saturatedwith solution after removal and that the solution is applied onto thesurface of the mop.
 11. Procedure according to claim 9, characterized inthat the mops are individually filled in compartments and are removedtherefrom, respectively.
 12. Procedure according to claim 11,characterized in that each compartment is filled with a single mop. 13.Procedure according to claims 9, characterized in that the mops areremoved from its respective compartments and are brought into a removalposition, in which they are fanned out horizontally, which removalposition is accessible from outside.
 14. Procedure according to claim13, characterized in that the mops are brought into a removal positionwith a downward oriented cleaning face.
 15. Procedure according to claim9, characterized in that the mops are saturated with solution at itsremoval by sinking it into a stock of cleaning solution.
 16. Procedureaccording to claim 15, characterized in that each mop is saturated witha metered quantity of the solution.
 17. Procedure according to claim 9,characterized in that the mops are kept as is after use in a holdingcontainer until disposed of for purposes of their regeneration. 18.Procedure according to claim 8, characterized in that the storage andholding containers are safeguarded against unauthorized removals. 19.Procedure according to claim 1 characterized in that removal of the mopsfrom the storage container is automatically controlled.
 20. Device forfitting and preparing flat cleaning mops with a storage container, whichstores a larger number of mops, has a removal opening for removing mops,and is provided inside with a feeding device for saturating the mopswith cleaning solution.
 21. Device according to claim 20, characterizedin that it also has a holding container for accommodating the dirty mopsafter their use.
 22. Device according to claim 20, characterized in thatit comprises a metering device that routes an adjustable quantity of thesolution to the feeding device from a tank with fresh cleaning solution.23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the meteringdevice, the tank for the cleaning solution and a compressed air bottleare situated in a separate casing to convey the solution via compressedair to the feeding device.
 24. Device according to claim 20,characterized in that the feeding device is designed as a sprayingdevice.
 25. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that thestorage container has a magazine with a horizontal cross section, whichcorresponds roughly to the dimensions of a fanned-out mop, and whoseheight is dimensioned according to the stacking height of the number offresh mops stacked one on top of the other therein.
 26. Device accordingto claim 25, characterized in that the stack with fresh mops is situatedbelow, and the feeding device (11) above, inside the storage containerrelative to the removal opening.
 27. Device according to claim 26,characterized in that the feeding device has spray nozzles distributedover the container cross section, which are connected with the meteringdevice.
 28. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that anintermediate floor carrying the stack and situated in the storagecontainer can be adjusted in height based on the stack height, whichdiminishes as the mops stacked in the magazine are removed.
 29. Deviceaccording to claim 28, characterized in that the height of theintermediate floor can be incrementally adjusted, wherein the height isadjusted by about the thickness of one mop in each increment.
 30. Deviceaccording to claim 29, characterized in that each height adjustment islinked with an actuation of the metering device, so that therespectively removed mop or uppermost mop of the stack is saturated withsolution.
 31. Device according to claim 28, characterized in that theheight of the intermediate floor is advantageously adjusted by a springforce, exerted by the removal of the stack weight or through the use ofan upper stop.
 32. Device according to claim 20, characterized in thatthe removal opening is sealed from outside by a flap, which, whenopened, actuates the metering device, whose subsequent actuation isdisabled until the saturated mop has been removed.
 33. Device accordingto claim 21, characterized in that the lid section of the holdingcontainer has a feed inlet bridged to the inside by a deflectioncompartment, which prevents a hand from reaching in.
 34. Deviceaccording to claim 25, characterized in that the storage container has adrip floor below the stack for cleaning solution released to the sidesof the stack.
 35. Device for fitting and preparing flat cleaning mopswith a storage container, which stores a larger number of mops and has aremoval opening for removing mops, which device is provided with afeeding device for prior saturating the removed mops with cleaningsolution.
 36. Device according to claim 35, characterized in that thefeeding device is formed as a flat trough.
 37. Device according to claim36, characterized in that the trough comprises a perforated flexibleupper plate and a stiff lower plate, the stiff lower plate beingarranged underneath the perforated flexible upper plate at a distancesuch, that, upon elastic deformation of the flexible upper plate, theflexible upper plate may abut against the stiff lower plate.
 38. Deviceaccording to claim 37, characterized in that the stiff lower plate isperforated.
 39. Device according to claim 35, characterized in that thestorage container is formed as a rotatable drum having a plurality ofradially arranged compartments, wherein the dimensions of eachcompartment correspond roughly to the dimensions of a fanned out mop.40. Device according to claim 39, characterized in that the removalopening for removing mops from the drum is formed in a fixed casing ofthe drum, wherein the removal opening is arranged in a positionunderneath a horizontal plane passing through the center of the drum,and wherein the aperture of the removal opening corresponds roughly toan aperture of the radially arranged compartments.
 41. Device accordingto claim 40, characterized in that a guide plate is arranged at theremoval opening for guiding the mops to a removal position in thetrough.
 42. Device according to claim 39, characterized in that afilling opening for filling mops in the storage container is formed in afixed casing of the drum, wherein the filling opening is arranged in aposition above a horizontal plane passing through the center of thedrum.
 43. Device according to claim 42, characterized in that anaperture of the filling opening corresponds roughly to a plurality ofapertures of the radially arranged compartments.
 44. Device according toclaim 35, characterized in that it has a holding container foraccommodating the dirty mops after their use.
 45. Device according toclaim 35, characterized in that it comprises a metering device thatroutes an adjustable quantity of the solution to the feeding device froma tank with fresh cleaning solution.
 46. Device according to claim 44,characterized in that a lid section of the holding container has a feedinlet bridged to the inside by a deflection compartment, which preventsa hand from reaching in.